NRC in Greece

A total of

6919

people in need received our assistance in 2017.

Humanitarian overview

Record numbers of refugees and migrants have crossed the Mediterranean at great peril to find safety in Europe since 2015, when nearly a million people arrived in Greece by sea from Turkey. Most of those making the dangerous journey have been fleeing conflict in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.

For many refugees, Greece was merely a transit country. Many people continued on to destinations further north. But the situation changed in March 2016. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia closed its borders. Shortly after, the EU and Turkey signed an agreement stating that all new irregular migrants crossing Greece from Turkey would be returned to Turkey. Despite border closures and the risk of deportation, people still make the desperate choice – they arrive cold and traumatised.

Meanwhile, refugees stranded in Greece have applied for asylum there, while others wait to be relocated or for their family reunification applications to be decided. While Greece is responsible for nearly 50,000 stranded refugees, the government must deal with the economic crisis that still affects its citizens.

NRC's operation (Until end of March 2018)

In 2015, thousands of people arrived on the island of Chios every day. In July 2017, we ended our activities there, after funding ceased and the government took over the management of services. We continue to advocate for the rights and welfare of people who are still stranded on Chios.

Today, many vulnerable refugees are relocated from islands to the mainland, and in late 2016, we rolled out an urban project in the northern city of Thessaloniki to ensure that refugees live in proper accommodation.

Camp management

In the Thessaloniki area in the northeast of the country, our teams now support the authorities in the management and upgrade of two refugee camps. We:

help vulnerable refugees and migrants who are moving from camp settings to urban accommodation

upgrade and maintain infrastructure like water and sanitation facilities and prepare camps for winter

coordinate and train volunteer groups and other actors operating in the camps

Education

In 2016, NRC started education projects in Greece. Our teams:

provide English, Greek, Arabic, science and math classes to children in the camps around Thessaloniki and in urban areas

teach IT and English classes to youth aged 15 and above.

Shelter and settlements

In Thessaloniki, we give refugees a chance to return to normal life. Our teams: